Free Killer's Kiss by R.L. Stine Page B

voice trembled with anger. “Did you think no one would believe me?”
    â€œShe’s lying!” Karina cried again.
    Delia shook her head. “You must be so surprised to see me here. You expected to find me safely tied up in your room after the party. But I loosened the ropes.”
    Delia held her hands up so everyone could see the rope burns on her wrists. Two bright red bracelets of raw skin.
    Britty gasped. “How could you do that to her?” she asked Karina.
    â€œWhat were you going to do when you got home, Karina?” Delia demanded furiously. “ Kill me?”
    Delia turned and wrapped her arms around Vincent’s waist. She buried her face in his chest. “She’s insane!” Delia moaned.
    â€œYou’re insane!” Karina shrieked in fury. “This whole story is crazy!” She launched herself at Delia.
    Gabe and Stewart each grabbed Karina by an arm. Karina struggled against them. “It’s all a lie!” she wailed. “It’s a total lie!”
    She struggled to break free from the boys’ grasp.
    â€œStop it, Karina!” Stewart ordered. “You came to the party late. We all saw you.”
    â€œThat doesn’t mean anything!” she cried. “I tried on a couple of different outfits.”
    â€œCome to her house. You’ll see!” Delia exclaimed. She pulled away from Vincent and started for the door.
    â€œI’ll prove it to you!” Delia shouted. “Come to her house. The ropes are still tied to the headboard. And—and you’ll see the blood. My blood. All over the carpet.”
    Karina ripped herself away from Gabe and Stewart.
    She shoved through the crowd and blocked the doors.
    â€œNo!” she screamed. “No! You can’t come to my house! You can’t!”

Chapter
    20

    â€œW hy can’t we go to your house?” Delia demanded. “Because I’m telling the truth?”
    â€œNo!” Karina cried, trembling. “Because it’s crazy! It’s all a crazy pack of lies! Delia is a liar!”
    â€œLiar?” Delia cried. “I’m a liar?” She raised her hands so that everyone could see them once again. “Look at my wrists.”
    She touched the side of her head and held up her blood-smeared fingers. “Look at my head! My dress is torn. My knees are skinned.” She stared hard at Karina. “So how can you say I’m a liar?”
    â€œNoooooo!” Karina let out a long howl. She dove at Delia.
    But Vincent jumped between them. “Karina …”Vincent hesitated. “We’re going to do everything we can to get you the help you need.”
    Karina threw herself at Vincent. She pounded on his chest with both fists. “Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” she chanted. “I hate you! I hate you all!”
    With one more furious roar, she spun away from him. Her eyes wild, her hair flying behind her, she turned and pushed through the double doors.
    They slammed behind her.
    â€œSomeone stop her!” Stewart cried.
    Gabe grabbed Britty’s arm. The two of them darted after Karina.
    â€œI’ll go find a phone. I’ll try to call her parents,” Stewart volunteered. “We have to stop her—before she does something else that’s horrible!”
    Delia watched Stewart run out the door. Then she sank against Vincent.
    â€œLet’s get you home,” Vincent said softly. “We have to take care of those cuts.”
    Delia sighed and pulled back. “Let’s just rest for a moment,” she whispered weakly. “I—I can’t believe what she did to me. I can’t believe she’d go this far …”
    â™¦ ♦ ♦
    Delia inhaled deeply. She loved the smell of a new tube of lipstick.
    She stroked a coat of Midnight Wine over her full lips and checked her dresser mirror. “Perfect,” she murmured. She picked a tissue from the box onher dresser and blotted her